🎸Vaden Lewis of the Toadies joined us at the Loop, his rehearsal studio in Fort Worth, to talk about growing up a Fort Worth kid, how the Talking Heads and the Pixies cracked his world open, and the wild early days of the Toadies: from sweating it out in a metal storage unit to landing a deal with Interscope Records after a showcase at the Whisky a Go Go.We also dig into The Charmer, the band's brand-new album recorded with the legendary Steve Albini, a dream Vaden had since the very beginning that took nearly 30 years to finally make happen. And we get into what it took to build the Loop into the kind of place musicians actually want to show up to.

Recorded at The Loop Artist Rehearsal Complex, Fort Worth

Toadies

Salim Nourallah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - "Unstoppable" Theme Song (All Rights Reserved to Salim Nourallah)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electrik Ants ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - "Place To Be" Outro Theme (All Rights Reserved to Electrik Ants)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Sherman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Your Host

The Dallas Famous Podcast is supported by the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mullen & Mullen Music Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Music Project was created by Mullen & Mullen Injury Law Firm to champion the independent music scene in North Texas.

This week on the Season 5 Finale of the Dallas Famous Podcast, we’re joined by Jenni Rose of Vandoliers for one of the most powerful conversations of the season.

Jenni shares her journey from growing up in Texas surrounded by punk rock and country music to touring the world, building Vandoliers from the ground up, and publicly coming out as a transgender artist while in the spotlight. We talk about the chaos and camaraderie of life on tour, the early DIY days of the band, and the courage it takes to live authentically — both onstage and off.

Honest, funny, vulnerable, and deeply inspiring, this episode explores identity, music, resilience, and staying true to yourself no matter where the road leads.

This might be my favorite interview of the season — and I think you’ll dig it too.

🎙️ Dallas Famous Podcast
Real stories from the people shaping Dallas music, culture, and creative life.

Jenni Rose

Vandoliers

Salim Nourallah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - "Unstoppable" Theme Song (All Rights Reserved to Salim Nourallah)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electrik Ants ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - "Place To Be" Outro Theme (All Rights Reserved to Electrik Ants)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Sherman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Your Host

The Dallas Famous Podcast is supported by the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mullen & Mullen Music Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Music Project was created by Mullen & Mullen Injury Law Firm to champion the independent music scene in North Texas.

This week on the Dallas Famous Podcast, we sit down with Joel Salazar, better known as DJ Leo J — a true pillar of the Dallas music scene.

With over 25 years behind the decks, Joel has done it all. From rocking Dallas nightclubs and community events to building platforms that uplift the next generation, his impact runs deep. As a master of turntablism, an educator, and a community leader, Joel has helped shape the culture through initiatives like Cipher Dallas and Battlegrounds, creating safe and accessible spaces for DJs, dancers, and artists to thrive.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The evolution of the Dallas DJ scene

• The art of turntableism & what separates real DJs

• Building community through music

• Launching and growing Cipher Dallas

• Mentoring the next generation of creatives

• 25 years of stories from behind the decks

If you care about Dallas music history, DJ culture, hip hop, turntablism, or creative entrepreneurship, this episode is a must-watch.

Joel Salazar

⁠Salim Nourallah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - "Unstoppable" Theme Song (All Rights Reserved to Salim Nourallah)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electrik Ants ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - "Place To Be" Outro Theme (All Rights Reserved to Electrik Ants)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Sherman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Your Host

The Dallas Famous Podcast is supported by the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mullen & Mullen Music Project⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Music Project was created by Mullen & Mullen Injury Law Firm to champion the independent music scene in North Texas.